SafePlants

Daltonia splachnoides (Daltonia Moss)

Explore the fascinating world of Daltonia splachnoides, a captivating moss also known as Daltonia Moss or Irish Daltonia.

Considerations for Pets and Children

• This moss sometimes grows on decaying wood or rocks.
• The plant forms tufts up to 1 cm tall.
• Other mosses such as Daltonia angustifolia have been found growing on beetles.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Daltonia splachnoides (Sm.) Hook. & Taylor
• Synonyms: Daltonia pusilla, Daltonia valdiviae (D. valdiviae Herzog = Daltonia trachyodonta fide Bartram 1931)
• Common Name: Daltonia Moss, Irish Daltonia, Dalton's Moss
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Family: Daltoniaceae
• Rank: Species

Distribution and Habitat

• Daltonia splachnoides is found in various locations, including Scotland, Ireland, Tasmania, and California (where it is thought to be introduced, specifically in San Francisco).
• It grows on humus, decaying wood, or rocks by streams and on tree boles, up to 500m.

Morphological Characteristics

• Small, yellow-green plants growing in lax tufts.
• Stems are branched at the base or simple.
• Leaves are flexuose when dry, erect-patent when wet, narrow lanceolate, with a narrowly acute apex.
• The shiny, usually dark green, flattened, erect shoots form tufts up to 1 cm tall.
• Paroicous (antheridia in a lower axil on the same shoot with the archegonia).
• A fringed calyptra is a highly diagnostic feature.

Ecological Role

• Daltonia angustifolia has been reported as new to India.

Quirky Facts

• The genus Daltonia is named after James Dalton, an amateur botanist in Yorkshire, England in the 19th century who described a number of British moss species.

Further Information

• TSN 547701
• GBIF view on Daltonia and Daltonia splachnoides
• Tropicos
• Encyclopedia of Life
• Wikispecies
• Drone-Application-Server database publication for Daltonia splachnoides